“Now it’s very frequent,” Flores said of the years since the blooms first appeared, to National Geographic.

Flores and local stakeholders in Guatemala decided to map the blooms over the following years. They developed new AI that will help authorities better predict when and where algae the lake will bloom.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rely on a combination of on-the-ground and satellite reports to predict harmful blooms off the coasts of Texas and Florida. According to Flores, there is currently no technological infrastructure to warn authorities about an oncoming algae bloom in Guatemala.

Flores hopes new technology can help local NGOs and environmental groups target the sources of contaminants helping the blooms grow. For example, they know agricultural runoff and untreated sewage lead to blooms but where and how intensely each impacts the lake remains a mystery.

“When we identify key variable that continue to algae bloom formation, there is a starting point to take action,” she said to National Geographic.

According to Flores, one benefit to using AI instead of people to identify the bloom’s source is that gathering information becomes cheaper and faster and can more easily be shared.

Nominate

The Water & Wastes Digest staff invites industry professionals to nominate the water and wastewater projects they deem most remarkable and innovative for recognition in the Annual Reference Guide issue. All projects must have been in the design or construction phase over the last 18 months.